Analyzing the Problems Faced by Pakistan Railways: A Detailed Report

This report delves into the multifaceted challenges confronting Pakistan Railways, a crucial sector of Pakistan's transportation infrastructure. It identifies key issues such as poor infrastructure, including a lack of operational locomotives and dilapidated tracks, as well as the impact of political interference and inadequate funding. The report highlights mismanagement and lack of leadership within the organization, leading to operational inefficiencies, passenger dissatisfaction, and corruption. Furthermore, it examines the significant budget deficits, overstaffing issues, and financial strains, including the burden of debt and the allocation of funds. The report cites various sources to support its findings, offering a comprehensive overview of the factors contributing to the decline of Pakistan Railways and emphasizing the urgent need for reforms.

Table of contents:
2. Complications and Drawbacks in Pakistan Railways … … … … … … … … … … 2
2.1. Uncertainty and poor infrastructure … … … … … … … … … … 2
2.2. lack of leadership (mismanagement)… … … … … … … … … … …2
2.3. Budget deficit … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 3
2.4. Over staffing … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 3
2.5. References … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 4
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Chapter # 2
2. Complications and Drawbacks in Pakistan Railways:
Pakistan railway is major sector of transportation and it can also become the backbone of the
economy because this sector has a lot of potential. As, Pakistan railway is not properly working
due to the negligence of government. Pakistan railway is facing a lot of problems due to poor
infrastructure, mismanagement, lack of leadership and overstaffing. The efficiency of the
Pakistan railways can be increased if the government level issues are addressed. Here are some
complications in Pakistan railways which needs to improve.
2.1. Uncertainty and poor infrastructure:
Pakistan railways has 192 operating locomotives out of 500, due to lack of funds to purchase
fuel, salaries payment and the maintenance of the equipment (Rehman, 2011). The conditions of
the available locomotive are so bad that is the reason behind train breakdowns in the mid of
destination and the passengers have to wait for the repairing process of engine. In modern
railway locomotives, it consists of six motors while in Pakistan railway almost each train have 3
or 4 motors which is the major cause of breakdown of trains in the midway.
The process of developing and maintaining the infrastructure is becoming more difficult for
Pakistan railways because of the centralized approval of funds from the government.
Unfortunately, in past few years the political interference has destroyed Pakistan railways. Our
previous government officials are spending the money to making the motorways did not look for
the upgradation of railways. Railway is the cheaper mode of transportation. Due to negligence
from government, a lot of accidents has occurred. Accidents occur due to bad tracks, broken
bridges and faulty locomotives. According to dawn news, 72 people’s dead in 2019 accident of
milat express in between Reti and dharkhi railway station due to the faulty locomotives.
2.2. lack of leadership (mismanagement):
To run any business or organizational work management is a major path towards success and
vice versa. In Pakistan railway almost each and every department has lack of leadership which
cause the passengers mentally and physical torture.
Pakistan railways management has failed to generate the profit or revenues by using their
available resources i.e., land, locomotive and carriage factory etc. the officials of Pakistan
railway focused on bringing new locomotives instead of improving their maintenance. (Siddiqui,
2011). Mostly trains are late on platform because of poorly managed timings which frustrate the
passengers and even no official from railways meet passengers to care about their problems.
Another major issue is over loading train with passengers which damage the tracks, it also causes
of corruption in Pakistan railways. At the time of ticket issuance, the TC receives bribe and load
people without issuing tickets. It is just because of lack of check and balance (Daheem, 2010).
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A number of unscheduled stops, lack of efficiency in workers, over staffing and poor
accountability process and ignorance of other transparency factor are results for the downfall in
Pakistan railways.
2.3. Budget deficit:
Increase in budget deficit is major concern for Pakistan railways. So, it is presumed that Pakistan
railways are primarily not expected for profit. However, it is allowed to meet at least the
operational expenses. According to government officials, the cabinet approved the Rs 10.1
billion for the upgradation of the Pakistan railway in 2011 while at the time of issuance Rs 1
billion was released. Pakistan railways is operating deficit over last 10 years raising 4.7 billion in
2007 - 2008 and expecting RS 26 billion in 2010 – 2011 (Rehman, 2011).
Pakistan railway has required more locomotives for the operating the profits. But unfortunately,
they are not simple freight trains because all the available locomotives are used in passengers’
trains. Railway is most preferable transport mood for the poor people due to the economical or
affordable fare but its performance and operational activities are declining which affects the
people.
In 2009 Pakistan railway has reported debt of Rs 40 billion to National bank of Pakistan, on that
amount they have paying Rs 4.6 million interest annually (Asim & Qanita 2014). In 2011- 2012
federal ministry have set a fund of Rs 45 billion for the Pakistan railways while the spending of
the fiscal year 2011 – 2012 were Rs 51.78 billion (Rehman, 2011).
2.4. Over staffing:
Over staffing is another main reason of collapsing any running business. It will become the
burden of budget and effecting the performance of the any organization, in case of Pakistan
railways (2012) they hired more than 90,000 people which resulted a serious decline in railway
condition at that time Pakistan have already high unemployment rate of nine percent (World
Economic, 2013). Pakistan railway have need of Rs 2.2 billion to pay the salaries of their
employees.
In June 2020, Chief justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed questioning railway secretary
about the worst performance of the railway sector and the number of workers in railway.
Secretary of Pakistan railway told that currently 76,000 people are working for the PR. On that,
chief justice surprised on such a large manpower of the sector has such pathetic performance.
The honorable judge told that over staffing is the major cause for the declining in Pakistan
railways that contributing the loses. (Tribune).
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References:
1- Daheem, M. (2011). Pakistan Railways Crisis. Retrieved January 29, 2015 from
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=125216.
2- Railway.infrastructure,(2021). Retrieved,5,September 2021, from
https://www.dawn.com/news/1611705
3- Iqbal, N. (2021). No govt dept more corrupt than railways: SC. Retrieved 5 September
2021, from https://www.dawn.com/news/1530950
4- Over and under staffing. (2021). Retrieved 5 September 2021, from
https://nation.com.pk/04-Aug-2019/over-and-under-staffing
5- State of railways | The Express Tribune. (2021). Retrieved 5 September 2021, from
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2241460/6-state-of-railways
6- Salvaging Pakistan Railways. (2021). Retrieved 5 September 2021, from
https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/10/20/salvaging-pakistan-railways/
7- Pakistan Railways Special Report: A journey of neglect, incompetence and corruption |
The Express Tribune. (2021). Retrieved 5 September 2021, from
https://tribune.com.pk/story/301469/pakistan-railways-special-report-a-journey-of-
neglect-incompetence-and-corruption
8- (2021). Retrieved 5 September 2021, from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281437645_Pakistan_Railways_at_the_Verge_
of_Collapse_A_Case_Study
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